Polygonal patterned ground
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Polygonal, patterned ground is quite common in some regions of Mars. It is commonly believed to be caused by the sublimation of ice from the ground. Sublimation is the direct change of solid ice to a
A similar process occurs on Nile crocodiles. Their snout skins crack during embryo development, forming polygonal patterns.
Wide view of crater containing polygons with frost in the low parts, as seen by HiRISE under the HiWish program
Closer view of polygons with frost in the low parts, as seen by HiRISE under the HiWish program
Close view of polygons with frost in the low parts, as seen by HiRISE under the HiWish program Circular shapes are also visible.
Columnar jointing
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Columnar jointing is a geological structure where sets of intersecting closely spaced fractures, referred to as joints, result in the formation of a regular array of polygonal prisms, or columns. Colu
Polygonal patterned ground
…every winter, until thousands of years later, it settles into a thermodynamically favored state, which is dominated by Y-junctions. This is similar to columnar jointing. Fractured polygonal ground is generally divided into two kinds: high center and low center. The middle of a high center polygon is 10 meters across…
Columnar jointing in Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland
Columnar jointing in the Alcantara Gorge, Sicily
Devils Tower is an eroded laccolith in the Black Hills National Forest, Wyoming.
Hexagonal volcanic tuffs at East Dam of High Island Reservoir